Wood is a natural fiber. This seems obvious, but this fact brings with it some implications that not every builder adequately considers, until a job gone wrong makes it too late. So to bring it back to extreme basics, lumber is manufactured from the cellulose stems of large trees, and while humans tend to think of the function of wood in terms of floors and walls, the tree itself uses these fibers to transport moisture and nutrients from the roots to the leaves.
In other words, untreated wood is a virtual sponge, designed by nature’s goodness to absorb humidity and expand to accommodate an increased supply of it. While this is perfect for the needs of a living tree, it can be disastrous for the home builder who fails to take into account this basic property of lumber.
Preventing climate-related warping and buckling is a task which must be approached proactively. For builders in moist environments, guarding against humidity and temperature-related damage should be considered at each phase of the planning and installation process.
The key to acclimating your lumber to the local conditions is allowing the wood time to adjust prior to installation. Ideally, the materials should be delivered several weeks in advance and stored under the approximate condition in which it will be installed. A thermometer and barometer should be placed in the room, and carefully checked for daily fluctuations. Wise builders invest in a moisture monitor as well, to ensure optimum conditions.
Combining the other tasks of building, such as drywall installation and concrete setting, with the installation of a wood floor can present problems as well. Test such surfaces by placing a clear sheet of laminate on them for several days; if no beads of water appear, the drying is complete. Be sure that all other work on the room has been completed for several weeks before delivery of the wood, or excess humidity given off from these processes could corrupt the acclimation of your lumber.
Heating and cooling appliances should be avoided during acclimation period, as this will skew the results of your readings and defeat the purpose of acclimating the wood to your environment. Special attention must also be given to the moisture levels in the crawl area and floor frame, as the underside of flooring surfaces can be an easily overlooked source of humidity.